Proverbs 18:10-12 — The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe . The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty , and before honor is humility.

Yesterday I wrote about Paul’s instruction to be joyful, and to prayerfully take every request to God, being thankful in the knowledge that whatever we pray in the name of His Son we can be sure he will grant according to His promise, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 4:13-14)

Here is the same promise, from the Father. We can run to the Lord with all our concerns, all our needs, all our troubles. We can share everything with Him, and He will provide us with the defenses we need against all the world’s woes.

The rich man, foolishly, seeks to build his own tower – a tower of wealth. How futile an endeavor. Jesus warns of the folly of their efforts: “And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24). You can run to the strong tower of the Lord’s name … or you can seek to build your own tower … but you cannot depend on both equally. Jesus warns of that too: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

It’s not just wealth that we seek to use as the building block for towers of refuge. We might run to our jobs, to substance abuse, to hobbies and pastimes.

Now I know that Proverbs can be a difficult book to pull any kind of flow out of. It’s not always easy to see how one verse connects to another. As I looked at these verses though I did see the connection. You can rely on the name of the Lord, or you can try to rely on your own tower – but that way will lead to destruction. If we are so proud as to think we know better than the Lord, we will surely come to destruction. If we are so humble as to know our limits, and run to the Lord in times of trouble, honor will follow.

Run to the Lord.